The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene Law Number 19... Do Not Offend the Wrong Person
There are many different kinds of people in the world, and you can never assume that everyone
will react to your strategies in the same way. Deceive or outmaneuver some people and
they will spend the rest of their lives seeking revenge. They are wolves in lambs' clothing.
Choose your victims and opponents carefully. Never offend or deceive the wrong person!
Here are the 5 Most Dangerous and Difficult Typs of People, that you will definately stumble
upon at some point in your life 1. The Arrogant and Proud Man
Although he may initially disguise it, this man's touchy pride makes him very dangerous.
Any perceived slight will lead to a vengeance of overwhelming violence. You may say to yourself,
"But I only said such-and-such at a party, where everyone was drunk. ..." It does not
matter. There is no sanity behind his overreaction, so do not waste time trying to figure him
out. If at any point in your dealings with a person you sense as oversensitive with overactive
pride, flee, run away! Whatever you are hoping for from this person, isn't worth it.
2. The Hopelessly Insecure Man This man is related to the proud and arrogant
type, but is less violent and harder to spot. His ego is fragile, his sense of self insecure,
and if he feels himself deceived or attacked, the hurt will simmer. He will attack you in
bites that will take forever to get big enough for you to notice. If you find you have deceived
or harmed such a man, disappear for a long time. Do not stay around him or he will nibble
you to death. 3. Mr. Suspicion
He sees what he wants to see—usually the worst—in other people, and imagines that
everyone is after him. Mr. Suspicion is in fact the least dangerous of the three: Genuinely
unbalanced, he is easy to deceive, just as Stalin himself was constantly deceived. Play
on his suspicious nature to get him to turn against other people. But if you do become
the target of his suspicions, watch out. 4. The Serpent with a Long Memory
If hurt or deceived, this man will show no anger on the surface; he will calculate and
wait. Then, when he is in a position to turn the tables, he will exact a revenge marked
by a cold-blooded shrewdness. Recognize this man by his calculation and cunning in the
different areas of his life. He is usually cold and unaffectionate. Be doubly careful
of this snake, and if you have somehow injured him, either crush him completely or get him
out of your sight. 5. The Plain, Unassuming, and Often Unintelligent
Man The danger with this man is not that he will
harm you or seek revenge, but merely that he will waste your time, energy, resources,
and even your sanity in trying to deceive him. Have a test ready for him—a joke or
a story. If his reaction is utterly literal, this is the type you are dealing with. Continue
at your own risk. 5 Final Words of Caution
1. In judging and measuring your opponent, never rely on your instincts. You will make
the greatest mistakes of all if you rely on such inexact indicators. Nothing can substitute
for gathering concrete knowledge. Study and spy on your opponent for however long it takes;
this will pay off in the long run. 2. Never trust appearances. Anyone with a
serpent's heart can use a show of kindness to cloak it; a person who is blustery on the
outside is often really a coward. Learn to see through appearances and their contradictions.
Never trust the version that people give of themselves—it is utterly unreliable.
3. If you want to turn people down, it is best to do so politely and respectfully, even
if you feel their request is impudent or their offer ridiculous. Never reject them with an
insult until you know them better; you may be dealing with a Genghis Khan.
4. Some people's insecurity and ego fragility cannot tolerate the slightest offense. To
see if you are dealing with such a type, test them first—make, say, a mild joke at their
expense. A confident person will laugh; an overly insecure one will react as if personally
insulted. If you suspect you are dealing with this type, find another victim.
5. Swallow the impulse to offend, even if the other person seems weak. The satisfaction
is meager compared to the danger that someday he or she will be in a position to hurt you.
Alright, that's almost it for this law, let me elaborate more on why I chose this Hitler
figure. I know, it's not the best example & I also know it's not the only reason he
blamed the jewish people, he played the blame game, propaganda, people were pissed at losing
the first world war and having to pay reparations, having scarce resources and so
on and he made them responsible for it. BUT before all that Hitler was living on the streets
trying his luck as an artist. Yes, Adolf Hitler did paintings & when he reached out to museums
& art-shows, he was deeply hurt. A lot of these organizations were owned by Jewish people,
who he took personal offense to. Never offend the wrong person. Done.